tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post6460177448310118153..comments2023-12-26T18:33:04.681-08:00Comments on Writability: What Makes a Great First Sentence?Gabe (Ava Jae)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04778524723148508140noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-60801469739410466122015-02-13T14:28:18.305-08:002015-02-13T14:28:18.305-08:00Well, that first line definitely has some pretty i...Well, that first line definitely has some pretty intense imagery (even if it's super gross imagery ha ha). Those two other ones are interesting examples, too. Sometimes addressing the reader doesn't work, but I think those are two instances where it has a pretty interesting effect. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-59514420915238211442015-02-07T16:40:06.474-08:002015-02-07T16:40:06.474-08:00My all time absolute favorite first line is:
"...My all time absolute favorite first line is:<br />"The early summer sky was the color of cat vomit."<br />--Uglies by Scott Westerfeld<br /><br /><br />I have no idea why I love it so much.<br /><br /><br />I also enjoy first lines/intros that address the reader. Like the opening of the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan: "Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood." Or, though I can't recall the name of the book (something about promises?): "I didn't do it. Isn't that how all confessions start?" (I am aware this is two sentences.)Michelle Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-7958352638701332222014-10-19T18:29:10.855-07:002014-10-19T18:29:10.855-07:00Holes! Yes, I agree—great first line. Thanks, Henr...<i>Holes</i>! Yes, I agree—great first line. Thanks, Henry!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-73144199202534861232014-10-19T18:27:31.315-07:002014-10-19T18:27:31.315-07:00"There's no lake at Camp Green Lake."..."There's no lake at Camp Green Lake." <br /><br /><br />-HolesHenrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-15411220631443317902012-08-28T06:15:51.436-07:002012-08-28T06:15:51.436-07:00Thank you so much, Lynne! I really appreciate it! ...Thank you so much, Lynne! I really appreciate it! Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-15724183756667766532012-08-26T19:34:08.683-07:002012-08-26T19:34:08.683-07:00Great info. Just tweeted to your blogGreat info. Just tweeted to your blogLynne Constantinehttp://twitter.com/LynneConstantinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-52500199035101806632012-08-21T06:14:41.025-07:002012-08-21T06:14:41.025-07:00Great example! I can certainly see the appeal, alt...Great example! I can certainly see the appeal, although out of curiosity, what do you think draws you to that particular opening so much? Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-31572472358186277652012-08-14T08:43:47.871-07:002012-08-14T08:43:47.871-07:00My favorite has got to be the opening to Stephen K...My favorite has got to be the opening to Stephen King's The Dark Tower. <br />"The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed."Davidsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-19070091687435484672012-06-04T17:04:08.050-07:002012-06-04T17:04:08.050-07:00Thank you! I thought so, too. :)Thank you! I thought so, too. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-56491268100305150732012-06-04T15:06:21.486-07:002012-06-04T15:06:21.486-07:00Those are some great examples, in very different w...Those are some great examples, in very different ways :)rachelcotterillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-85958872258567125002012-06-04T09:21:25.120-07:002012-06-04T09:21:25.120-07:00Those are great examples! Say what you will about ...Those are great examples! Say what you will about <i>Twilight</i>, but Meyers definitely knew how to hook quite a few readers in, and that first sentence certainly helped.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-47602444056165936472012-06-04T09:15:27.941-07:002012-06-04T09:15:27.941-07:00Great first lines? How about these quoted from mem...Great first lines? How about these quoted from memory:<br /><br />'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' - Charles Dickens in A tale of two cities<br />'No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched...' (Wow! What a LONG first sentence.) H.G. Wells in War of the Worlds.<br />'I've never given much thought to how I would die' - Preface of Stephanie Meyer's TwilightJohn Chapmanhttp://twitter.com/JChapmanAuthornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-62653851969818327642012-01-26T05:46:27.328-08:002012-01-26T05:46:27.328-08:00Ah, of course! I haven't read that one in a lo...Ah, of course! I haven't read that one in a long time. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-3874575185600104192012-01-23T15:06:40.423-08:002012-01-23T15:06:40.423-08:00Those are the first lines to Twain's novel Tom...Those are the first lines to Twain's novel Tom Sawyer.Anne-Marie Clarknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-51432723955117076322012-01-22T11:52:56.591-08:002012-01-22T11:52:56.591-08:00Hmm, haven't heard that one. What's it fro...Hmm, haven't heard that one. What's it from?Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-47490185113526093832012-01-21T11:36:37.459-08:002012-01-21T11:36:37.459-08:00"Tom!"No answer.
"Tom!"
No ans..."Tom!"No answer.<br />"Tom!"<br />No answer.<br />"What's gone with that boy, I wonder? You Tom!"<br />No answer.Anne-Marie Clarknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-80947752078536250552012-01-21T10:47:27.306-08:002012-01-21T10:47:27.306-08:00So glad I could help! One of the best ways to lear...So glad I could help! One of the best ways to learn how to improve your writing is by analyzing what others have done before us. :) <br /><br />Interesting first line! I hadn't heard that one before. Thanks for sharing it! Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-85623222529472327162012-01-21T10:23:56.727-08:002012-01-21T10:23:56.727-08:00Thank you for this post. I knew that first lines w...Thank you for this post. I knew that first lines were important but there has been a big a difference for me between recognizing a great opener and writing a great opener. Your post will help me with the writing part!<br /><br />Oh, my favourite opener: " I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice – not because of his <br />voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even <br />because he was the instrument of my mother’s death, but because he is <br />the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany. " by John Irving.Jo-Anne Tealhttp://twitter.com/jtvancouvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-64677682503304317982012-01-21T09:35:19.877-08:002012-01-21T09:35:19.877-08:00Getting the beginning down is incredibly important...Getting the beginning down is incredibly important--and certainly worth rewriting as many times as you need to get it right. Even the smallest changes can make all the difference!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-15375461045048944252012-01-21T08:51:32.051-08:002012-01-21T08:51:32.051-08:00I so agree. Good post. I've written a manuscri...I so agree. Good post. I've written a manuscript where I have changed the beginning at least three times. I think I nailed it with the last change. I grab them with the first line and have them wondering about why the main character is thinking what she is thinking.Janet Smarthttp://creativewritingintheblackberrypatch.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-73255043021692694862012-01-14T05:14:46.228-08:002012-01-14T05:14:46.228-08:00Thank you Lisa! So glad you enjoyed the post! :)Thank you Lisa! So glad you enjoyed the post! :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-17079114086415576672012-01-13T08:41:26.307-08:002012-01-13T08:41:26.307-08:00Brilliant!!! I love it. :D Brilliant!!! I love it. :D Lisa Gail Greennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-57579939676450225122012-01-12T19:33:05.386-08:002012-01-12T19:33:05.386-08:00So true... It's my way of examining a book whe...So true... It's my way of examining a book whether it's good or bad.rifaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10093316519388661128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-75128675558154628432012-01-12T14:46:36.936-08:002012-01-12T14:46:36.936-08:00So glad you enjoyed the post and were able to appl...So glad you enjoyed the post and were able to apply it. :) <br /><br />I too thought Jeremy's suggestion was sheer brilliance, and thusly will be posting the first of two posts tomorrow. Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-90874982700488409062012-01-12T14:07:58.101-08:002012-01-12T14:07:58.101-08:00Great examples and analysis, Ava. I need to go bac...Great examples and analysis, Ava. I need to go back and relook at my first line on my WIP. I think it's strong, but I'd like to analyze it with your suggestions above. And I love Jeremy's suggestion for you to do a post on present vs past tenses!Susan Sipalhttp://twitter.com/HP4Writersnoreply@blogger.com